POET NICOLA

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Way, way back in October 2012, the little Sunnyside Reception learners of the day participated in the annual national drawing campaign, The Big Draw. In doing so, they were fortunate enough to be able to work alongside representatives of the extremely clever and creative cooperative Eccleston George Public Artists when they met with them on Whippy Cove's magnificent beach.Using the beautiful golden sands as their blank canvas, and a variety of specially handcrafted little learner friendly tools, as well as natural finds from the beach itself, everyone had a marvellous morning drawing and creating some brilliant original beach art.

One particular member of the E.G. team who was supporting the little learners that day, was Daring Dan Recycle Man, so called because of his ability to invent and create amazing things from.....well....rubbish, essentially. One of Daring Dan's greatest achievements has to be his enormous wooden tricycle which once he'd finished creating and piecing together, he promptly jumped upon and pedalled off to Spain!Mrs Crayon became all inspired about Daring Dan Recycle Man and his inventing antics, and this in turn led to the idea of a young aspiring little learner-type inventor which she subsequently wrote about in her poem DARING DAN THINKS He CAN...........FLY.It tells the tale of a young inventor chappie and his desperate attempts to get off the ground despite the continued health risk warnings from his exasperated mother. (Wings and Springs posted November 2012.)Today, Mrs Crayon is delighted to present to you dear reader, the follow up to said poem. So before the new academic year commences and the little Sunnyside learners of 2014-2015 begin their adventure in the Reception Class, let's celebrate once more the genius that is Daring Dan Recycle Man (albeit as he was as a teeny tiny little learner) in his latest daring adventure.

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

As Miss Kind desperately tried to ram one last dust pan load of detritus into the classroom's already overflowing waste bin this afternoon, she took a moment to stand back and survey the stark display boards, the clear glass of the classroom windows, (which incidentally no one has seen since the beginning of last September, prior to them becoming covered in vast amounts of bits and bobs,) and the lengths of string (minus their dingle dangles) hanging from the ceiling and gently swaying in the warm breeze emanating from the open windows. All that was needed now thought she, was for some tumbleweed to come rolling past her, and the sad and sorry scene would be complete.Yes....it is the end of term! The academic year is done, and the time has come when little learners must move on to the next phase in their educational journey - that of year one. The Sunnyside Team have been here before, many many times in fact, but this annual event, still remains as poignant and as emotional as ever.

While Miss Kind was battling with the waste bin, Mrs Very Jolly and a band of little learner helpers, were busy retrieving all the Blu-tack blobs left behind after the removal of the classroom's mountain of paintings, posters and dingle dangles. With their work almost done, and their expanding Blu-tack blob now the size of a tennis ball, Mrs Very Jolly was keen to ask her little helpers how they felt about the prospect of moving to year one."The work is really, really hard you know!" Stated one little learner."You do really tricky numbers." Said another."You don't do fun things in year one.....that's for the little kids." Ironically informed a third little learner."And....." Shouted a little learner from the back of the group as he popped a blob of Blu-Tack in his trouser pocket, "The grown ups aren't allowed to help you in year one, you has to do everyfin' by your own!"Standing at Mrs Very Jolly's side was a little learner intently listening to all this spurious information as he was busily squishing a small blob of Blu-Tack between his fingers."What about you poppet..." Mrs Very Jolly asked him, "What are you hoping to learn in year one?""Well..." Pondered the little learner for a moment, still furiously squishing his bit of putty, "I'd like to learn to juggle!" "Oh!" Was the response to that from a somewhat crest fallen Mrs Very Jolly, because sadly she is unaware of any juggling year one teachers at Sunnyside School, in fact, she's not aware of any juggling teachers at all!So, dear reader all that remains is to thank you once again for being a faithful visitor to the SUNNYSIDERS blog.Sunnysiders will return in September with a brand new crew of little learners, led as usual by the non juggling Mrs Jolly, Mrs Very Jolly, Miss Kind, Mrs Caring, Mrs Crayon and Mrs Organised. See you then for more fun and learning!

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About Me

I'm a doodler and a dabbler. I've doodled and dabbled since leaving Portsmouth College of Art and Design back in the day when enormous hair and gigantic shoulder pads ruled the world. I adore colour and I can become very excited by it. I have been known to buy watercolour crayons purely to sharpen and look at.I work in Early years, so a large part of my day is spent with one hand in a paint pot and the other in a tub of glue. The various little people I have supported over the last 12 years are the total inspiration for Sunnysiders.

Imagine a giant cooking pot if you will and in it are the following ingredients.1. Stories I collect each day whilst working with little learners in a busy Reception class2. One heaped tablespoon of artistic licence3. Fictional characters, based on a pinch of reality4. An accurate account of how young children learn in the Reception Year.Now stir it all up and add lots and lots of fun. Simmer for one academic year then Bob's your auntie you have http://sunnysiders2012.blogspot.co.uk/